THE LAST DAYS
Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves [utterly self centered], covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent [uncontrolled], fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady [inflated with self conceit], high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” II Tim. 3:1-5 (added meanings – Strong’s Concordance).
This world is rapidly getting worse and worse. Evil is running rampant. Apostle Paul’s description above absolutely shows the condition of the world in these last days. The violence brought on by Islamic terrorism is growing and so disturbing to hear. It is happening more and more in various parts of the free world. We must not walk in fear despite all that is going on in this world. We trust in the Lord God to protect us from harm.
We hear of many Christians in foreign lands being persecuted and murdered by evil people who say they are doing it in the name of their god. They are serving another God other than the true God because our God of the Bible does not back these terrorists in their actions. Sometimes we may wonder why God would allow the Christians to suffer. We can only say that God has a purpose. We trust His decisions. Many have given their lives for Christ in the past. He was glorified in their deaths We marvel at the archaic way in which many of these believers are being killed. Beheading? Long ago when one heard of the “beheading” which would be used by the Antichrist in the endtime, it seemed such an odd way to execute in this modern time, so old fashioned, but now we see the Scripture being fulfilled in these last days.
ZIKA VIRUS – Is now considered a “Global Health Emergency.” this has been in the news for a few months now. Brazil is especially effected with over 4,000 cases reported of malformation of newborn babies, whose mother’s were infected with the virus during pregnancy. As most of us know by now, the disease is carried by mosquitoes, and is now believed to be transmitted through blood and sexual activity, as well as directly caused by a carrier mosquito, which causes an illness which people rarely die from, but they can become a carrier. Jesus Christ told of the “pestilences [diseases]” that would come in the endtime (Mt. 24 & Lk. 21) as a sign of His coming.
Another problem facing the world‘s health is an antibiotic resistant strain of E. Coli infection that has scientists very concerned because it is an infection that can’t be treated by any known antibiotic. For some time they had an antibiotic called Colistin which was a last resort to use because it was so toxic. Now, they have found bacteria that is resistant in more than two dozen countries. Doctors at Walter Reed Hospital have decided to start testing samples from the U.S. As time goes by, mankind nearly conquers one disease and then another one pops up. This is the endtime and this is fulfilling prophetic Scripture showing the nearness of Christ’s return.
FIRESTORMS, HEAT, FLOODS AND TORNADOES – More and more as times goes by, we are experiencing these disasters in the U.S.A. Fires in California, Arizona and New Mexico are rampaging, destroying thousands of acres. There was a recent fire which started in Oklahoma and spread to Kansas before it was stopped. It burned 397.420 acres and was the largest fire in recorded history in Kansas. It was seen from NASA’s Aqua Satellite. The annual number of wildfires in the U.S. have grown by more than 75%, and are more devastating and costly because more and more homes are being built in mountainous and wooded lands. There are the highest risks, in these fires. Authorities say that the increased fires are having an impact on public health, property, the ecosystem and livelihood.
Heat - greatly due to the El Nino causing weather patterns to change increasing heat and rainfall in many places in the U.S. which in turn causes flooding. There has been increased tornado activity also. These conditions are warning us that there is a God in heaven Who rules the universe. He is warning this world of coming judgment. During the tribulation of seven years, times will be much worse than this. Let us look up! He’s coming.
THE SPREAD OF WICCA IN THE US – stands for Witches International Coven Counsel Association. This group and Satanism (devil worship) in America are growing by leaps and bounds. WICCA is a modern version of ancient pagan religions, created in England and brought to the United States in the 1960’s. This group claims to be able to contact spirits of the dead, so some in bereavement flow to this falsity to try to find comfort in their time of loss. Actually, it is evil satanic spirits that they codger up, deceiving people with this method. The Bible teaches that the spirits of those who die go immediately to either heaven or hell. They don’t hang around on earth. Recently the U.S. military has declared they will allow all religious symbols to be worn by members of the military. These include beards, scarfs turbans or yarmulke or crosses or any signs even WICCA would like to wear, along with their uniforms as long that they don’t inhibit their military activities. This is called “religious accommodation.”
UNITED KINGDOM VOTES TO LEAVE THE E.U. – (June 23, 2016) it was decided by vote that they will leave the European Union. It is not yet apparent as to what this will mean prophetically. We have been watching this organization, realizing they are “The Revived Roman Empire,” from which many feel the Antichrist will come. Revelation 17:9-12 speaks of kings [leaders] of the endtime who will “fall.” Only time will tell what exactly this will mean, but we know God is bringing about the endtime scenes, and the unification of the nations into a kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan and the Antichrist will come just as it was prophesied.
WARNINGS OF THE TIMES ARE ALL AROUND! I Thessalonians 5:1-7 is the warning for today. Let us heed the admonitions of these verses - “…For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the day…Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober…For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation (deliverance) by our Lord Jesus Christ.” He’s coming soon! Praise God!
